UH Hilo Leadership

Chancellor

Donald Straney became chancellor at UH Hilo in 2010. Previously, he was dean of the College of Science and professor of biology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Under Chancellor Straney’s leadership, UH Hilo is exceeding goals for graduation rates, community college transfers, numbers of Native Hawaiian students and graduates, and STEM students and graduates. In addition to more research proposals being submitted and more dollars coming in, he also has established an Office of Applied Learning to increase opportunities for students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-life experiences in the community. For more information, visit the Office of the Chancellor website.

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Matthew Platz joined UH Hilo in January 2013. He previously served as Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Ohio State University and Director of the Division of Chemistry of the National Science Foundation. At UH Hilo, he has increased transparency, reduced recurring spending by over $200k a year and used the savings to fund faculty hiring and lecturers in high demand areas. Comprehensive data on revenue, spending, research training and revolving funds, enrollments, majors and graduates is now available on the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) website.

Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs

Marcia Sakai has been a UH Hilo faculty in business administration and economics since 1991 and is a professor of tourism and economics. She was appointed dean of UH Hilo’s College of Business and Economics in 2005. Since her arrival at administrative affairs in 2011, she has made great progress toward improving campus-wide efficiency in several areas, notably technology infrastructure and sustainability measures with special focus on energy conservation. For more information, visit the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs (VCAdmin) website.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Gail Makuakāne-Lundin has held positions of leadership within the Division of Student Affairs and other units at UH Hilo since 1984. She was named interim vice chancellor for student affairs in 2014, where her priority is enhancing student success through meaningful integrated programs that support learning, development and engagement. A recent success is the launch of a Freshman Village with living-learning communities that bring students together to live, learn, study and enjoy extracurricular activities. For more information, visit the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) website.

Director of Development

Mariko Miho joined UH Hilo in 2013. Previously, she was the senior director of development for the community colleges at the UH Foundation. At UH Hilo, she is working closely and strategically with the chancellor, academic leadership, and the larger community to attract and effectively work with donors. In Fiscal Year 2014, UH Hilo’s Office of Development helped raise $2.5M from private sources. Noteworthy is a $158k grant from Kamehameha Schools to support a residential STEM Summer Bridge Program. For more information, visit the UH Foundation (UHF) website.

Director of University Relations

Jerry Chang joined UH Hilo in January 2013 after serving 24 years as a representative in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. At UH Hilo, he worked with state and county lawmakers and community leaders to secure funding for the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy building, along with capital improvements for a start-up aviation program. He has addressed student transportation needs through expanded bus service linking UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College, and strengthened security through implementing the establishment of a police substation on campus. For more information, visit the University Relations (UR) website.

Deans and Directors of the Colleges

College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management

Bruce Mathews was named interim dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM) in 2012. He has been a professor of soil science and agronomy at UH Hilo since 1993. His top priorities as dean are in advancing articulation with the UH community colleges and revitalizing hands-on instruction. He is working closely with the USDA Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo to better ensure that research funds allocated to the college are used for collaborative efforts and forming stronger linkages with the local agricultural community.

College of Arts and Sciences

Randy Hirokawa was named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in 2005. Previously, he served on the faculty at Pennsylvania State University. As dean, his priorities are to rebuild faculty strength in high enrollment majors; to establish graduate programs that address workforce needs particularly in Hawai‘i; to increase support of foreign languages prevalent in the islands geographical region; to improve student success, retention, and graduation; and to support faculty teaching and research.

College of Business and Economics

Krishna Dhir is dean of the College of Business and Economics (CoBE). He arrived at UH Hilo in 2013, previously serving in the position of Henry Gund Professor of Management and Dean of the Campbell School of Business at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia. At UH Hilo, he is leading the college to take a more active role in 21st century workforce development. He envisions creating partners with other UH Hilo colleges and academic and non-academic institutions to develop niche programs in areas specific to the region like hotel management, eco-tourism development, and management of ocean-based industries.

College of Continuing Education and Community Service

Farrah-Marie Gomes is interim dean of the College of Continuing Education and Community Service (CCECS), since 2011, and director of the North Hawai‘i Education and Research Center (NHERC), since 2006. Previously, she was a research associate with The Catalyst Group, a private firm in Hawai‘i that evaluates education, defense, and health and human services projects. She recently secured two grants: $16k from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation to provide student support services, and $70K from the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in partnership with the Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers to develop and deliver curriculum to produce Master Food Preservers.

Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language

Keiki Kawai‘ae‘a is director of Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, since 2013. She is an associate professor in Hawaiian and Hawaiian studies and has been at the college for 20 years. She is founding director of the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education Program and is a past director of the Hale Kuamo‘o Hawaiian Language and Culture Center. In 2013, she oversaw the completion of Haleʻōlelo, a two-story 36,759 square foot building and new home for the college. Her priorities are in improving programs and outreach in Hawaiian language and culture, linguistics, immersion and mauli ola education P-20.

Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy

John Pezzuto was named dean of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) in 2006. Previously, he served as dean of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences at Purdue. A top priority of the dean was reached in 2014 with funding approved by the State of Hawai‘i for a permanent building, which in turn secures accreditation for the college from the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education. The new building will supply modern educational facilities for its nearly 350 PharmD students and almost 100 faculty and staff.

UH Hilo Student Association

Margarita Morales, President

Joshua Fuentes, Vice President

Melinda Alles, Treasurer

Vacant, Data Director

Senators:

James Zeigler, College of Arts and Sciences

Vacant, College of Business and Economics

Joshua Boranian, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management